Mississippi River Bridge Construction
Construction continues on the new Mississippi River Bridge. Tuesday 112911 sunset silhouettes the bridge.
Photos by Derik Holtmann
Belleville Santa Parade
Photos from the Annual Belleville, Illinois Santa Parade.
PHOTOS BY DERIK HOLTMANN
Gingerbread Contest: Belleville, Illinois
In its 22 years of existence, competition has become fierce in the city’s annual gingerbread contest with some entrants spending months on their holiday-themed creations.
But the winner of this year’s best in show award said she didn’t even know about the contest until she and a friend were shopping in downtown Belleville last week.
“We went to the Crystal and Spice Shoppe and saw a brochure for the Gingerbread Contest,” top prize winner Jessie Bostick said of her shopping trip with friend Jennifer Morimoto. “We thought it sounded like fun, so we decided to do it.”
Belle Valley School under construction
The new Belle Valley school is taking shape. The school, which is under 100,000 square feet of roof, has three wings divided by age group and connected by a common main entry, multi-purpose room and gym. The new school near Green Mount Road and Amann Drive is scheduled to open by Nov. 1. Photos by Derik Holtmann/BND
O’Fallon vs Collinsville softball
O’Fallon defeated Collinsville 7-2 Wednesday night. photos by Derik Holtmann
Civil Unions
Kart racing family at Bedrock Raceway in Belleville
Video of Midkiff family at Bedrock Raceway
It’s a family gathering for the Midkiff family as another year of racing gets started at Bedrock Raceway. Tobias Midkiff and his son Alex Midkiff (10) spend their Friday nights circling the 1/8 mile track located just south of Belleville. “It’s a lot of fun, a way to keep everyone together,” says Tobias Midkiff. “A lot of folks that started young racing, their teenage kids are still with them on the weekends racing.” Tobias Midkiff’s wife Debra is just as much a part of the team. She can be found refueling karts and making sure Alex is ready and in place for the next race. “Really if it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be able to race too and Alex race. Without her help it would be just a one kart operation, “ stated Tobias Midkiff.
Bedrock Raceway strives to maintain a family atmosphere and it shows. A glance at the staging area will show the dynamic as the young drivers are accompanied by their fathers, mothers, older siblings and friends before they hit the track. Alex Midkiff started racing when he was 6 and this is his fifth year of racing. His goal this year is to win and he will have a lot of competition in the Junior 1 Flathead class. Bedrock Raceway features several classes of racing with over 50 drivers racing on opening night. Drivers start as young as five-years-old in the Rookie Flathead class and drivers age 15 and up in the Outlaw class can reach speeds of 60 mph on the straight away.
Bedrock Raceway races on Friday nights except on holiday weekends. (Memorial day, July 4th, Labor Day) Rain can delay or cancel racing. The forums page on their website keeps track of cancellations. General admission to the track is free, and pit passes are $15. Racers should visit the website for track information. Bedrock Raceway has a concession stand that serves a variety of drinks, food and treats. Bedrock Raceway is located at 2327 Park Road in Belleville just east of the Belleville Enduro Team and YMCA outdoor center. (photos and video by Derik Holtmann)
RACING FRIDAY NIGHTS
Gates Open at 5:00 pm
Pill Draw 5:00pm – 7:30pm
Hot Laps at 7:30 pm
Racing Begins at 8:00 pm
Storm Damage
Residents and work crews were busy Wednesday cleaning debris from homes and lawns. Belleville received damage in the neighborhoods near 19th and South Belt West, and on North 28th street in the Woodland Court area. Photos by Derik Holtmann
Ten Toe Express
The Ten Toes Express roared into Belleville Wednesday kicking off the spring season for the MetroLink based walking program. The Express is a program of Citizens for Mass Transit which touts walking tours as a way for people to get exercise while learning about some of the hidden treasures of the St. Louis area. It was a beautiful day for a walk as about 30 people followed special guest guide Bob Brunkow of the Belleville Historic Society as he showed off old homes and historic sites in the Hexenbukel Neighborhood in Belleville. Photos by Derik Holtmann
Memorial Hospital new medical center
Workers move into position one of three large heating and cooling units onto the roof of the future Orthopedic and Neurosciences Center at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. Southwest Illinois Health Ventures, Inc., a subsidiary of Memorial Group, Inc., started construction on the $24 million, 85,000-square-foot center in May 2010. This will be the third medical office building at the Memorial hospital campus.The building will house physicians who treat pain management, sports medicine, physical, occupational and hand therapy, as well as a new MRI unit. According to Mario Gioia, vice president of facilities management at Memorial, the project is on its way to completion. “In spite of the inclement weather this winter, the project is still scheduled to be completed in November 2011,” he said. Photos by Derik Holtmann
4.12.11: Belleville East vs. West boys baseball
Belleville East High School shut out Belleville West in boys baseball Tuesday, 4-0. Photos by Zia Nizami
4.12.11: East vs. West softball
Belleville East beat Belleville West in girls softball Tuesday, 7-2. Photos by Tim Vizer
4.6.11: Gibault vs. Belleville East softball
Gibault was down 8-6 after two innings, but rallied to beat East 17-8 Wednesday afternoon. Photos by Zia Nizami
3.20.11: BelleVegas Rocks! Jonezy
The latest installment of BelleVegas Rocks! features Granite City rapper Jonezy, aka Justin Jones. Here he performs “Costumes” and “Live it Up” and talks about creating original music. Read about him this weekend in the Belleville News-Democrat Sunday Magazine. Video by Zia Nizami
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3.10.11: Zion Lutheran celebrates Lutheran Schools Week
Students at Zion Lutheran School in Belleville on Thursday celebrated Lutheran Schools Week with a performance by The Conquerors. The group uses dance and strength to express faith. Photos by Zia Nizami.
BNDphotos 